Bronze

Partly, and at two key moments. The starting model is 3D printed, which guarantees precision in the design and real consistency from piece to piece. But the entire finish is done by hand: demolding, sanding, patina, protection, and visual inspection all pass through our hands, one piece at a time. That's the touch that gives each handle its slightly unique signature.

Our bronze, copper, brass, and aluminum powders come from European suppliers specializing in fine metallurgy. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, close to the composition of classic statuary bronzes. When possible, we favor powders made from remelted metal scrap, to limit the impact of extraction. Each powder is reserved for its own material, never mixed.

Traditional foundry casting melts metal at very high temperatures, which takes a huge amount of energy and sacrifices a mold with every piece. Our cold casting happens at room temperature, using a reusable silicone mold, with no melting involved. The result: far less energy spent, and a crisper pattern, since the material takes the shape of the mold without the turbulence of molten metal. It is a leaner process, built for small, carefully finished runs.

A foundry-cast handle is poured in molten metal, which calls for simplified patterns and heavy tooling. With us, the pattern is first sculpted in 3D with a level of detail molten metal could never hold, then transferred through cold casting. You get the same weight in the hand, the same reflection and patina of metal, with sharper relief. It is the same standard of material, delivered by a different process.

Our process is designed to stay lean. Cold casting skips the very high heat and the disposable mold that foundry work requires, and we produce only the material the piece itself needs, with no sprue to remelt. We work in small batches, close to actual demand, rather than building up large stock. Most of our restraint comes from the process itself: less energy than a foundry, less waste, less overproduction.

We make small batches and measure out the metal powder and resin as closely as possible to what each order calls for, which limits leftover material at the source. The silicone mold serves several pieces before it's replaced. We'd rather produce just what's needed than generate offcuts to deal with later. That's the whole point of working to order: little stock, little waste.

In practice, the question rarely comes up: a Holdon handle is made to last for decades, and we archive the 3D model of every piece so it can be remade identically. Our metal handles combine metal powder and epoxy resin, a blend that doesn't sort like solid metal at a recycling center. If you'd like to part with older pieces, we offer to take them back at the atelier instead of the trash. It's the cleanest way to give them a second life.

As a small atelier, we don't hold a full REACH certification: the process is heavy and costly, and few small ateliers carry it. That said, all our raw materials are themselves REACH compliant: European metal powders, resin, patinas, and protective treatments. On request, we can send you the safety data sheets for each material, useful for an architect's file or a bid submission.

We start by 3D printing a very fine model of the handle, design included, in our Paris atelier. This model serves as our master for taking a silicone mold, into which we cold cast a mix of 80% pure Bronze powder and epoxy resin. The piece is then demolded, sanded, and hand patinated. Cold casting captures a level of detail that traditional casting can't achieve.

Yes. 3D printing the master, molding, casting, sanding, and patina: it all happens in our Paris workshop. Our metal powders and resins come from European suppliers, and both assembly and finishing stay French. Every piece is checked by eye in our workshop before it ships.

No. Our metal handles are cast from bronze, copper, brass, or pure aluminum powders, with no added lead, no cadmium, and no mercury. The materials used comply with European RoHS directives restricting hazardous substances. You can install them in a kitchen, a child's room, or a bathroom with no risk of toxic migration.

In a humid room or one exposed to splashes, kitchen and bathroom, metals are the safer choice: bronze, copper, brass, and aluminum hold up very well against household moisture. Bioresin, on the other hand, is best kept to dry rooms, bedroom, closet, living room, office, where its bold colors shine. The one contraindication common to all materials is outdoor use exposed to the elements. If you're unsure about a mixed-use room like a laundry room, go with metal: it's more forgiving.

Bronze is one of our metals: it holds up very well against moisture, so you can install it in a kitchen or bathroom just as well as in a dry room. For a bedroom or living room, it works just as well, it's then a matter of style. The only limit is outdoor exposure to rain and frost, which we advise against for all our materials.

A new metal has a clean look, matte or satin, on the more contemporary side. A patinated metal is worked by hand, and the patina is what gives it its color: warm, aged tones in brown, copper or gold, or a true color, like the verdigris of bronze, the deep blue of azurite on copper, or the powdered blue and sea green of Submerged Bronze. Each piece keeps slight variations that give it character. It's mainly a matter of taste: new for a modern, streamlined feel, patina for a more authentic spirit, or to bring in color without giving up metal. Both hold up equally well over time, only the look changes.

All the finishes available in Bronze are listed above, with their grain and tone. Compare the descriptions, open the ones that speak to you, and look at the finished handles that use them, that's the best way to decide. The same material can look very different depending on the finish, from the mattest to the most vivid. To understand the general logic of finishes, see the finishes page.

Material is the substance the handle is made of: bronze, copper, brass, aluminum, or bioresin. Finish is the surface treatment that follows, setting the grain, matte, satin, brushed, as well as the tone, patina, lacquer, or pigment. The same material can give rise to several finishes, none of which share the same light or the same touch. You choose the material first, then the finish that dresses it. See the finishes page for details.

Yes for metal finishes (bronze, copper, brass, aluminum), which handle household steam very well. Bioresin, more sensitive to prolonged moisture, should be avoided in these situations. On a built-in dishwasher, choose a metal material and wipe the piece down after high-temperature cycles. That is the only thing to remember for a front exposed to steam.

A soft, slightly damp cloth is enough in most cases. For a kitchen handle exposed to greasy buildup, add a drop of mild soap, liquid Marseille soap or diluted dish soap. Then wipe with a dry cloth to avoid streaks. That's all it takes day to day: no specialty product, no complicated routine.

Bronze, copper, and brass handle mild cleaners well and keep their patina thanks to the protective treatment applied in our atelier. A soft, damp cloth with a drop of mild soap covers everyday care, then a dry cloth to bring back the shine. Save diluted vinegar for occasional limescale spots only, never for routine cleaning. These patinated metals only get better with light, regular care.

Yes, on one key point. Metal finishes (bronze, copper, brass, aluminum) tolerate mild cleaners, a bit of diluted vinegar, and even household steam. Bioresin, on the other hand, should only be cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap, no alcohol, no solvent, no concentrated vinegar. Day to day care stays simple either way, it's mainly the list of products to avoid that differs. Each product page specifies the exact care for its material.

It depends mainly on the finish you choose, not just the material. A patinated finish, like Antique Bronze or Antique Copper, stays alive: it keeps evolving gently over time, and that's exactly the point. A matte, glossy, or colored finish is stabilized by its surface treatment and won't change. In short, Bronze sets the starting point, the finish decides how it behaves over time. Open a finish's page for its precise evolution.